“After nearly a year of renovation work, St. Paul is reopening two of its anchor libraries with expanded areas for kids, more community meeting space and a lot more windows. On Sunday, the newly dubbed Highland Park Community Center will open its renovated library and recreational facilities to the public with a program featuring speeches, music, presentations by the architects and refreshments. A similar ceremony kicked off the reopening last weekend of the Sun Ray branch library on the city’s East Side. The cost of the two projects was $13.5 million, with $7 million coming from the city.” (via Star Tribune)

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November 16, 2014Comments Off on Two St. Paul libraries reopen with bigger, brighter lookOpenings, St. Paul

“Shannon Lin couldn’t contain her excitement. “Yes! It’s finally open! See ya, mom!” the 11-year-old exclaimed as she bolted from the family minivan and into the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center in Palo Alto. The long-awaited $28 million facility held a “soft opening” Thursday. Library employees are using the time between now and a grand opening scheduled for Dec. 6 to iron out some kinks.” (via San Jose Mercury News)

“After almost eight months of construction, the Orlando Public Library is set to unveil a groundbreaking high-tech learning and job-training center. The Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation & Creativity opens to the public with a ribbon-cutting at noon Saturday, following a preview gala for public officials and other dignitaries on Friday night. The 26,000-square-foot center, which takes up about half of the downtown library’s second floor, includes a recording studio, sound booths, film studio with green screen, simulators, and a fabrication lab with 3-D printers.” (via Orlando Sentinel)

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February 7, 2014Comments Off on Orlando library unveils new $2.5M tech-learning centerOpenings, Orlando

“The San Diego Central Library, renamed and fully funded, opened for a smile-filled sneak peek in downtown’s East Village Saturday, with kids craning for a chance to check out a book and parents itching to see the panoramic views from the dome-topped roof.”I want to go over there and play on the computers,” Ernest Adams, 8, of La Mesa told his parents as they passed by the Denny Sanford Childrens Library on the ground floor. ” I want to read the Magic Tree House.” (via UTSanDiego.com)

“The New York Public Library has reopened its Stapleton branch on Staten Island, offering patrons a newly-renovated library that is more than double its original size, and that seamlessly combines the charm of an original “Carnegie Library” with a beautiful and highly-functional modern addition. The one-story, 12,000-square foot branch at 132 Canal Street was officially opened in a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 11 with community leaders and library staff. The United States Coast Guard participated in the event, attended by excited residents and nearby students. A day of public programs for all ages followed.” (via The New York Public Library)

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June 11, 2013Comments Off on The New York Public Library reopens its newly-renovated and expanded Stapleton branch with celebration on June 11NYPL, Openings, Staten Island